Wind resistant beach umbrella and garden umbrella

ABSTRACT

A beach umbrella and garden umbrella is stabilized against wind gusts by tying the umbrella with ropes to stakes in the ground. The ropes are tied to the canopy or to the center pole. It is possible to have some ropes tied to the canopy, and some ropes tied to the center pole. The ropes are connected to the umbrella using detachable couplings. It is possible to increase wind resistance further by using a flat base or a heavy base for the center pole, or by using an anchor or ground screw for the center pole, or by using anchors instead of stakes, or by venting the canopy. Ornaments and decorations can be tied to the ropes to decorate the umbrella.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates in general to beach umbrellas and gardenumbrellas, and in particular to beach umbrellas and garden umbrellasthat are stabilized against wind.

[0003] 2. Prior Art

[0004] The patent literature has a large number of patents for beachumbrellas, garden umbrellas, sun umbrellas, lawn umbrellas, sunshades,parasols and canopies.

[0005] A number of inventors have addressed the problem of beachumbrellas and garden umbrellas becoming dislodged by wind. Solutionsinclude using an anchor or ground screw to provide better support forthe center pole, using a flat and/or heavy base for the center pole, andventing the canopy to relieve wind pressure.

[0006] Prior art U.S patents include U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,530 (Hussey,2001), U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,435 (Leclercq, 1992), U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,090(Uhl, 1990), U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,193 (Visco, 1982), and U.S. Pat. No.538,093 (Weston, 1895).

[0007] Solutions proposed so far to the problem of umbrella instabilityin windy conditions have various shortcomings. In particular, many ofthem only offer limited wind resistance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention describes a beach umbrella and gardenumbrella that is stabilized against wind using ropes or cords connectedto stakes in the ground. This invention provides a simple, light,inexpensive, robust, universal, easy to produce, and easy to installmeans for stabilizing beach umbrellas and garden umbrellas against wind

[0009] This solution to the problem of lack of wind resistance isparticularly robust. The wind resistance that it gives the umbrella issubstantial, and it can be increased by adding more ropes and stakes, orby using anchors instead of stakes.

[0010] The ropes or cords can be tied either to the center pole or tothe canopy. It is possible to have some of them tied to the center pole,and some to the canopy. The attachments of the ropes or cords to theumbrella, whether to the center pole or to the canopy, can either bepermanent, or use detachable couplings.

DRAWING FIGURES

[0011]FIG. 1 shows a beach umbrella and garden umbrella that issupported by ropes tied to stakes. The ropes are tied to the centerpole.

[0012]FIG. 2 shows a beach umbrella and garden umbrella that issupported by ropes tied to stakes. The ropes are tied to the canopy.

[0013] The umbrellas depicted in the figures have 3 ropes and stakes.However the umbrella can have any number of ropes and stakes.

[0014] Also, it is possible to have an umbrella where a number of ropesare tied to the center pole, and a number of ropes are tied to thecanopy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] This invention is a beach umbrella and garden umbrellaconstructed of a center pole, on top of which there are ribs mountedradially and supporting a flexible canopy. In the preferred embodiment,the umbrella is foldable. A set of spokes connects the ribs to a ringthat is slideable on the center pole. The bottom edge of the center polenarrows to a point, which is pushed into the ground. The center pole caneither be a single pole, or it can be made up of a few sections.

[0016] Present designs of beach umbrellas and garden umbrellas aresusceptible to be dislodged by wind gusts. This invention solves thisproblem by stabilizing the umbrella by ropes or cords tied to stakes. InFIG. 1 the ropes/cords are tied to the center pole. In FIG. 2 theropes/cords are tied to the canopy. It is possible to have some ropestied to the center pole, and others to the canopy. FIGS. 1 and 2 showumbrellas with three ropes and stakes. The umbrella can have any numberof ropes and stakes.

[0017] A number of rings or couplings are installed on the edges of thecanopy and on the center pole. The ropes/cords are tied to these ringsor couplings. In the preferred embodiment the ropes/cords also haverings or couplings on their edges, which can be attached to thecouplings on the umbrella. The other end of each rope/cord is tied to astake in the ground. The fact that this embodiment has rings orcouplings on both the center pole and the canopy enables the user todecide whether to connect each rope to the center pole or to the canopy.

[0018] This invention describes a beach umbrella and garden umbrellathat is made wind resistant by being tied to ropes/cords that are tiedto stakes. This is a robust umbrella that can withstand strong windgusts without being dislodged. It can be made even more robust by usingmore ropes and stakes, or by using anchors instead of stakes. Otheradvantages of this invention include low cost, simplicity, universality,light weight and ease of manufacture.

[0019] The foregoing description is for the preferred embodiment of thewind resistant beach umbrella and garden umbrella. There can be manyvariations from this preferred embodiment.

[0020] This invention can be further improved by combining it with oneor more of the existing means for stabilizing a beach umbrella andgarden umbrella against wind. The canopy can be vented by holes torelieve wind pressure. The center pole can be supported on an anchor.The center pole can have a flat or a heavy base, or a base that is madeup of a number of horizontal arms.

[0021] Other variations can also be incorporated into this umbrella.

[0022] The ropes/cords can be permanently attached to the umbrellainstead of using detachable couplings or rings.

[0023] The canopy can be fixed rather than foldable.

[0024] The canopy can have any shape, such as circular, oval, polygonal,square, rectangular etc.

[0025] Besides stabilizing the umbrella against wind gusts, the ropes orcords can be used to decorate the umbrella. The ropes themselves can becolorful. Various decorations and ornaments can be tied to the ropes,such as flags, advertisements, cartoons etc.

[0026] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of theinvention and some possible variations has been presented for thepurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations are possible. It is intended that the scopeof the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but ratherby the claims appended hereto.

I claim:
 1. A wind resistant beach umbrella and garden umbrellacomprising a center pole, a plurality of ribs extending radially fromthe top of said center pole, a flexible canopy supported by said ribs, aplurality of spokes attached at one end to said ribs, and at the otherend to a ring slideable on said center pole, and a plurality of ropesattached at one end to said umbrella, and at the other end to stakes inthe ground.
 2. The umbrella in claim 1, wherein said ropes are attachedto said canopy.
 3. The umbrella in claim 1, wherein said ropes areattached to said center pole.
 4. The umbrella in claim 1, wherein someof said ropes are attached to said canopy, and the other ropes areattached to said center pole.
 5. The umbrella in claim 1, wherein saidropes are attached permanently to the umbrella.
 6. The umbrella in claim1, wherein said ropes are attached to the umbrella by a plurality ofdetachable coupling means.
 7. The umbrella in claim 1, wherein saidstakes are anchors.
 8. The umbrella in claim 1, wherein said center poleis a single piece.
 9. The umbrella in claim 1, wherein said center poleis made up of a few sections.
 10. The umbrella in claim 1, wherein thebottom end of said center pole narrows to a point.
 11. The umbrella inclaim 1, wherein said center pole is supported on a flat base.
 12. Theumbrella in claim 1, wherein said center pole is supported on a basecomprising horizontal arms.
 13. The umbrella in claim 1, wherein saidcenter pole is supported on a heavy base.
 14. The umbrella in claim 1,wherein said center pole is supported on an anchor.
 15. The umbrella inclaim 1, wherein said canopy has vent holes.
 16. The umbrella in claim1, wherein decorations and ornaments are tied to said ropes.
 17. Amethod for stabilizing a beach umbrella and garden umbrella against windgusts, comprising the tying of said umbrella by ropes to stakes in theground.